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SERVICE HISTORIES of ROYAL NAVY WARSHIPS in WORLD WAR 2

by Lt Cdr Geoffrey B Mason RN (Rtd) (c) 2001

HMS POLARIS (J 447) - Algerine-class Fleet Minesweeper

HMS Loyalty, sister-ship (Navy Photos, click to enlarge) return to Contents List 
 

ALGERINE-Class Fleet Minesweeper ordered from Port Arthur Shipyard with machinery provided by The Montreal Locomotive Works on 15th March 1943 The ship was laid  down on 15th May 1944 and launched on 13th December that year as the first RN ship to bear this name although it was in use by the Royal Australian Navy for an auxiliary Survey Ship. Her build was completed on 29th October 1945.

 

B a t t l e   H o n o u r s

None was awarded for service during WW2.

 

H e r a l d i c   D a t a

On a Field barry wavy of ten white and blue on a roundel

blue an estoile white.

 

 

D e t a i l s   o f   W a r   S e r v i c e

 

(for more ship information, go to Naval History Homepage and type name in Site Search

 

 

1 9 4 5

 

October                  Contractor's trials and commissioned for service.

                                Nominated for service with 3rd Minesweeping Flotilla.

       29th                  Build completion date.

November              Carried out Acceptance trials.

                                Prepared for Atlantic passage.

December               Passage to UK to join Flotilla.

 

1 9 4 6

 

January                     Joined Flotilla at Rosyth and worked-up for operational service.

February                   On completion deployed for mine-clearance duties in North Sea and.

      to                        NW Approaches based at Port Edgar and Londonderry

October                    (Note: Other ships in Flotilla included HM Fleet Minesweepers CHEERFUL, MANDATE,

                                            MARVEL, MYRMIDON, MYSTIC, NERISSA and ONYX.

                                            These were sister ships.

November                Flotilla redesignated 1st Minesweeping Flotilla

      to                        Mine clearance duties in Home waters in continuation.

December

 

1 9 4 7

 

                                 Home waters Mine Clearance duties with 1st Flotilla in continuation.

                                 Nominated for reduction to Reserve status on completion of  Home waters mine clearance.

 

1 9 4 8

 

                                 Reduced to Reserve  at Devonport and laid-up in Reserve Fleet at

                                 Devonport.

 

F i n a l   P h a s e

 

HMS POLARIS remained in Reserve until placed on the Disposal List  in 1956. The ship was sold to TW Ward for demolition in 1956 and arrived at the breaker’s yard in  Briton Ferry  on 26th September that year in tow.

 


 

For more about Algerine-class Minesweepers, see http://www.minesweepers.org.uk/index.htm

 

 

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revised 23/4/11
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